Museum der Völker

In 1995, Gert Chesi established the Museum der Völker in Schwaz, Tyrol as a cultural association. This museum is renowned in Europe for its ethnographic collections, which were previously referred to as ethnological museums.After undergoing construction and restoration, the museum reopened on April 12, 2013. It now boasts a spacious exhibition area of around 1000 m2 and is known as the Museum der Völker.

Over the span of fifty years, Gert Chesi has diligently gathered an extensive collection of exhibits from West Africa and Southeast Asia.A part of this collection formed the basis for the museum’s activities.Between 1995 and 2016, a total of 71 special exhibits were showcased.

In 2016, Gert Chesi donated approximately 1000 artifacts to the city of Schwaz. However, it is worth noting that a significant portion of the collection had already been sold to the Hanns Schell Collection in Graz back in 2008. After making this donation, Chesi left the museum. As part of the agreement, the city of Schwaz has committed to maintaining the operation of the museum and providing ongoing support to the cultural organization.

The cultural organization with the same name not only organizes exhibitions but also hosts readings, documentaries, film screenings, and intercultural conversations.

In 2017, Lisa Noggler-Gürtler was appointed as the director and curator of the Museum der Völker by the cultural organization.

The museum houses approximately 1,500 objects that come from both Gert Chesi’s private collection and the Hanns Schell Collection in Graz.The displays and archaeological artifacts provide valuable insights into African and Asian art and cultures, with some dating back approximately 4,000 years.

The collection includes Buddha images from Myanmar and Thailand, sculptures from the Khmer, Southeast Asia, and India, Hindu figures, and various artifacts from Indonesia such as ancestral figures, architectural components, and marionettes.

Another section of the collection features West African artifacts, primarily from Nigeria. These include Yoruba objects, twin figures, and remnants associated with the Nok civilization. Additionally, there are artifacts from Togo, such as voodoo objects. There are numerous historical items present in this collection, with a predominant focus on carvings and sculptures crafted by contemporary West African artisans. The collection features works by renowned artists such as Michel Komlan and Adima Kokou, as well as several other artists whose identities remain unknown.

The collection is constantly growing, thanks to private donations of artifacts from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that the family acquired during their travels.As a result, the collection of the Museum der Völker expanded to include Central and East Africa. The museum now showcases a wide range of daily objects, works of art, and religious artifacts from Ethiopia.

The permanent exhibition in the Asia room, titled “Between Heaven and Earth,” is dedicated to Buddhism and Hinduism. It explores the growing interest in Far Eastern beliefs, rituals, and meditation techniques among Western audiences.

Special exhibitions are held every six months on the other two levels.